Show me something Cool!!!

Now that’s cool!!

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Every bit as cool as a Pete Best autograph.

 

I LOVE your purple geode! Where I grew up on the Mississippi R, there was a creek that we used to get geodes from all the time, as the creekwater would go and wash away to soil that was holding them. We used to get some with a slight purple, but most softball sized with clear crystal ones, some larger almost soccerball size and some baseball and smaller. Those stones are some of the neatest and cool things that you can find, just wading in the creek. At our 20th, 30th, 40th and 50th high school reunions, a couple of us would go across the river to "our" creek and always bring some home.

 

A while ago, I spent a couple years assembling this M1 Garand from parts.



(Spoiler alert: There's no cost savings realized building one from parts.)

What it does do is educate you and allow you to have a like new one using the parts you want. It's somewhat like putting a coin set together. You buy parts over time, picking and choosing the quality & manufacturer you want. Many are new. Eventually you have them all.

Yes, there are purists that won't like it and that's ok. It's a b***** child. No matching serial numbers here, but it sends 30-06 down range accurately and ejects enblocks over your head. I remember I gave $50 for the custom lower, walnut stock, but had to sand and finish it myself. It sat in a corner for years.

The barreled receiver was the main cost and has the serial #. That is what had to go through an FFL dealer. Every other part you can buy through the mail. The receiver is original Springfield Armory. The later 50s version which is supposed to have a stronger forged heel. Earlier versions had trouble with the bolt hitting and cracking it (there's no buffer in back), so I did not want original WWII version receiver.
Barrel is middle aged. The trigger group is new, original Winchester from WWII. It's what holds it all together. It came as an assembly so I admittedly didn't put every pin and spring in.
Gas tube new, old stock. The bolt was new old stock that was still in cosmoline that had to be boiled out. Gas plug is new modern stock, ported, so can use modern hotter 30-06 (.30 caliber designed in 1906) in it without causing damage. Leaves additional space for gases to expand. You can get these for any M1. This is where people get into trouble buying these with an original plug. They don't know about it then run modern ammo through them until it blows.

I put national match sites on it. Charging handle had to be sent to a machine shop in Ohio to get the S-bend put in it so it would work right. Somehow I bought one that was straight and not bent yet. Miracle some place still knew how to do it. Sounds sketchy but, it's perfect or it doesn't work.

Reload my own for it. Free floating firing pin requires hardened primers. It's a clunky, bulky thing that just works with big moving parts and strong forces. Very representative of an era.